michael Wrote:
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> Hank,
> Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
> It looked like it was filmed on the Silverton
> Branch I just wasn't sure. Was the RGS connected
> to the DRGW? I don't know much about it but would
> like to learn more.
The RGS, built by Otto Mears & Co. in 1889-1891, had 162 miles of mainline streching from Ridgeway on the D&RG's Ouray branch to Durango. Routing was over Dallas Divide to Placerville(parallel to colo. hiway 62) then over Lizard head pass to Rico & Delores (co, 145) with an 8 mile branch to Telluride. From Delores it went east to Mancos over Millwood summit (co 184) then on over Cima summit to Hesperus(US 160) and on to Durango (co 140, Wildcat canyon road & US 160 again the last few miles) [that should help ya find it if ya gots a map]
It came under D&RG control during the Silver Panic (1893-1896) and was basically bleed for $$$ until it went into recievership in 1929. It hen limped along until the fall of '51 when it finally went under.
btw, the RGS *did* make a profit in the period 1897-1912, paid it's bonds ($180k/yr) and retained a cushion which all dissapeared in the late Gould-era manuvering in 1913. Interesting accounting there.
A quick search on the 'net will doubtless turn up *lots* of information (and even more MISinformation no doubt) and a trip to a local library might find it mentioned in a book or two. A few to look for:
-Mixed Train Daily, Beebe & cleeg 1947
-Narrow Gauge in the Rockies, Beebe & Clegg 1957(?)
[All the usual caveats about Beebe aside, MTD gives a nice view of the mystic of a trip on the RGS circa 1945-6, and nNGitR is a good general intro to all the Colorado lines. Many libraies have 'em and they can often be found used at reasonable prices)
-Rio Grande Southern, Josie Moore Crum 1957
[by the wife of a retired RGS conductor. Out of print for years, I've never actually seen it, or seen a copy listed at a price I can afford, but it's one of the basic sources]
-Silver San Juan, Mallory Hope Ferrell 1975
[also oop but a great book if you can find it! Me ma gave it to me for xmass that year.]
-Colorado Rail Annual #9, 1971(?)
[Covers the Goose story very well and is still available]
Lots of others of more recent vintage, still in print and available from the Colorado Railroad Museum (among others) notably:
Sunset on the RGS, two volumes by James L. Eherenberger late '90's
[lots of details, court docs etc on the last years. Also a good section (in vol 1) on what/where remains can be viewed]
-The RGS Story, 12(!) voulumes from Sundance publishing 1990-2006
[or Everything You Wanted to Know... @ $75 each a bit steep but they are *really* detailed. covering the line (mostly) one section at a time]
Dorman also put a couple of picture books out that cover the RGS.
That should get you started. And of course, somebody or other here will almost always answer serious questions.
hank
